Child safe after abduction from home

NEILLSVILLE — At about 12:24 a.m., on Thursday, Dec. 17, the Neillsville Police Department received a 911 call from a Neillsville woman saying her estranged husband, 38-year-old Jason Sonnheim of Neillsville, had just broken into her home, assaulted her, and abducted their 4-year-old son.

Officers from the Neillsville Police Department, Clark County Sheriff’s Office, and agents from the Wisconsin Department of Justice, Division of Criminal Investigation began working the case trying to locate Sonnheim while gathering information for an Amber Alert.

Information was received that Sonnheim was possibly in the Fairchild/Fall Creek area in Eau Claire County. Officers from the Eau Claire County Sheriff’s Office, Augusta Police Department, and Eau Claire Police Department became involved in the investigation.

At about 4:46 a.m., an Eau Claire County deputy spotted Sonnheim’s vehicle and began following it while waiting for additional officers.

At about 5:12 a.m., Eau Claire County initiated a traffic stop, and Sonnheim refused to stop. A high-speed pursuit ensued.

At about 5:36 a.m., stop sticks were deployed that deflated Sonnheim’s tires.

At about 5:38 a.m., on Highway 27 near 30th Avenue just south of Cadott, Sonnheim was taken into custody after a brief struggle. The child was found shaken but unharmed. Arrangements were made to return the child to his mother in Neillsville.

No injuries were reported to Sonnheim, the child, or officers. Sonnheim will be facing multiple charges in Eau Claire County as well as Clark County. He is considered innocent until proven guilty.

I want to extend my gratitude and appreciation to all of the officers and dispatchers involved in this sensitive investigation. Their professionalism and skill were instrumental in bringing this incident to a successful conclusion.